Tuesday, July 30, 2013

We missed the gym this morning because neither of of slept very well last night. Since I had a bit of bacon left over from THIS recipe I decided to make Doc a nice lunch of eggs, bacon, homemade bread and pear preserves. When he came into the kitchen to bring in dishes he said "If you're not going to workout then you need to eat bacon!"

We both had a good laugh...I feel better already and we'll be back at the gym tomorrow!For a while I had completely cut out meat from my diet but continued to feed Doc his regular meals. It was a learning experience. I never set a timeframe for avoiding meat and I didn't beat myself up mentally if I slipped. It was really just a chance to learn. I learned that I can live without meat but I still enjoy it (in moderation).

Now that I've eaten my fair share of Bacon however, I'm in need of a Fat-Fighter. Yes...Ask me about Fat-Fighters!!!The Real Food Challenge also taught us quite a bit about where our food is coming from, what's in our food and how to be more prepared for meal time. Stay tuned...More healthy recipes coming your way AND a Giveaway!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Good Morning!!! Just in case this is your first time checking out Mary's Kitchen...

At the moment we are 8 bloggers (and more) participating in this challenge:

Joyce @ It's Your LifeLydia @ Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen Maureen @ It's All ConnectedMelinda @ Auntie Em's GuideCourtney @ The Crunchy DeliquentKristina @ Mother's NicheTaylor @ Mama has Pink Hairand me...Mary @ Mary's Kitchen and Back to the BasicsI switched it up a bit this morning. I drank Basil Water (not lemonade this time) before I had my coffee. I also drank only 1 cup of coffee...Mostly because I was running late to get to work. Breakfast of course was Oatmeal!Lunch on the other had was AMAZING!!! I'm eating meat again in moderation. I was inspired by Michelle at The Purple Pumkin. She shared this amazing Brussels Sprout Gratin. I made my usual tweaks and we LOVED it!Roasted Brussels Sprouts and BaconIngredients:3 pounds washed Brussels Sprouts, ends removed and halved8 ounces Bacon, cooked but not crispysmall handful of fresh garlic, chopped1/4 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated 1/4 cup mayo1/2 cup greek yogurt (or sour cream)1/2 cup water (or milk)salt and pepper

Directions:Mix the mayo, greek yogurt, water and spices in a bowl.

Add in brussels sprouts, cooked bacon, garlic and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and place in a large casserole pan.

Bake at 400 for approx 30 minutes.

I served the Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon with Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower...Recipe coming tomorrow!

Overall I enjoyed Our Real Food Challenge. I cheated one meal on Day #6 but got back into the challenge for the next meal. I would like to extend an invitation for YOU to join the next challenge.

There are 2 opportunities: August 18th 2013 will be the first day of Our 7-Day Real Food Challenge #2ANDJoyce and I are planning another Real Food opportunity VERY soon.

Send an email to mari_backtonature@yahoo.comfor details on the next 2 opportunities or to sign up.

It was so easy to make. Slice a 2 thin rounds of bell pepper. Cook for about 1 minute on high in approx 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add an egg to the center and cover. Flip after approx 2 minutes. It should be cooked for an additional minute and then it's done!Dinner for Day #5 was another delicious protein shake.

I have a confession to make for Day #6. I totally cheated for lunch. While at work a friend came in and she was so upset. My husband and I took her to lunch to cheer her up. I could have suggested a healthier option but I know they both love cuban food.I ate grilled chicken, beans and spanish rice, chips and salsa. And Yes, all but the chips are real food but for ME the challenge was to eat everything from scratch.

I was so full from lunch that I didn't even eat dinner. I fixed my husband a protein shake and I ate a few pieces of watermelon. Not the end of the world! Tomorrow is Day #7 and I have a few fun food things planned. Stay tuned!How has the challenge been for you? Do you have a recipe to share? The REAL Food Linky is still open AND Lydia set up a Pintrest board. Stop by and share your real Food creations!I am considering hosting another Real Food Challenge in August. Sign ups have already begun.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Please understand that this post is not condemning bloggers who get paid for sponsored posts or don't share my same views. I try to be drama-free around here!

Rocky loves his picture taken!

I advertise very few products both at Mary's Kitchen and Back to the Basics. The products that I've shared I believe in. Sometime you have to stand back and think about whats truly important to you and then take action. We are working to eliminate the use of GMOs in our home and business. Read Are GMOs Poisoning our Children and Pets?

#1 is Mary's Heirloom Seeds! As co-owner and operator of Mary's Heirloom Seeds I believe that heirloom seeds are the ONLY way to go in the garden. I do not recommend store-bought plants cuz you never know what you're going to get. Also...Small business is the way to go! I was born and raised by 2 small business parents and it's in my blood.

#2 It Works! No really...It's called It Works and it actually works. Check out My Results from using the Ultimate Body Applicators. Also, I use the Greens (non-GMO) and the Ultimate ProFIT Protein Powder (also non-gmo). The compensation for It Works is fantastic. It's a great business for anyone to get into. Call me or send me an email for info. If you are looking for something to earn a little extra income or a LOT of income this is an amazing opportunity.

#3 Books! On the Kitchen Tools page you'll find tools and books. These are links to my amazon store. Keeping this blog may be free but I spend losts of time to keep it up and 'time is money.' By purchasing from my amazon links I might get a small commission from your order. Every little bit helps.

I get emails asking to "guest post" on my blog about
products or services. Personally, I'd rather have fellow bloggers with
real tutorials guest post here and at Back to the Basics.
With that being said...I am considering adding a few ads to this blog.
I'm not sure what at the moment but they will be fully vetted companies
that I know I can trust the value of their products.Do YOU have a small business or Etsy shop to promote? Send me an email and I'll consider featuring you shop here at Mary's Kitchen.mari_backtonature@yahoo.com

So here's how Day 4 went...water...Coffee...then some more water and then another coffee!Oatmeal again for breakfast but this time with almonds, cinnamon and honey. YUM!Lunch was delicious! I made vegetarian lentil soup.

Direction Add all ingredients to a stock pot and bring to a boil then turn down to low.Simmer for approx 60 minutes. Optional: mash remaining pieces of sweet potato. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (use vegan cheese for a completely vegan recipe)

Yesterday I completely forgot to post my day #2 until late. To be totally honest...I ate the same thing for day 2 and I did for Day 1. Boring maybe but super easy and I hate to let leftovers go bad.

I started Day #3 with lemon water and coffee...Again! I LOVE lemon water!

I bought the San Diego cup for my husband when I went to visit my family

For Doc's lunch, I fixed him a slow cooker chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread and fresh tomato slices.

For my lunch I made Easy Eggplant Stirfry only this time I added about 1/8 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar instead of soy sauce. It was SO good!

Snacks throughout the day included shelled, raw sunflower seeds, hummus with carrots and more delicious watermelon. For dinner we had Blueberry/veggie Protein Shakes.

We went to the gym yesterday for the first time in 2 weeks. We usually workout 3-4 times a week but we had family in town and then Doc wasn't feeling well.

Overall I feel good. Doc has been a bit under the
weather before we began so I'm not sure about him. I can say that I
totally blew it on drinking enough water for Day 2 and 3 so I'm really
going to make sure I hydrate the rest of the week.How are you doing with the Real Food Challenge? Share in comments or the LINKY!

Yesterday was a wonderful day...The start of Our Real Food Challenge!I was actually able to sleep in until 7:30am. Yes, the kitten let us sleep past 6am!

I started my day with black coffee with a bit of honey and a large glass of fresh lemon water (no sweetener).

I've never been to NY but a patient gave me a mug from her last trip.

My husband is always in charge of breakfast. We eat oatmeal every morning. I won't share a picture. It's boring. I add a tiny bit of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon while Doc (husband) adds organic real maple syrup.

After I did a bit of blogging, playing with the kitten and then getting cleaned up we ventured out into the world to the Farmer's Market. Sunday is our market day since we work for a few hours on Saturday at our Chiropractic Clinic.

Lunch was a bit more eventful. One thing I've learned...Since my husband is a meat eater...Cooking a large batch of chicken in the slow cooker makes my life so much easier. That's what I did on Saturday to get ready for Day 1. For the chicken I used 12 thighs, large chopped onion, garlic, cumin, dried basil and oregano, smoked paprika and sea salt. Add in approx 10 cups of water and set for 4-5 hours on high. Easy!

I had grilled eggplant, squash, mushrooms and red onion over quinoa.

Doc had the same with juicy, melt in your mouth chicken.

Snacks throughout the day included baby carrots, celery and deliciously juice watermelon.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

In preparation...Last night I grilled a large red sweet onion and a bit of eggplant. The only "sauce" was olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I also added a bit of pepper. This will most likely go over quinoa.

For my husband, I cooked up 2 pounds of chicken in the slow cooker. I used only organic spices: sea salt, pepper, garlic, cumin and smoked paprika. No pre-made, broth...just water and large onion chunks. He always say "Delicious."

This is how I started my day!

This morning we are off to the Farmer's Market. I'm looking forward to digging into a nice juicy watermelon!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Tomorrow is the start of Our Real Food Challenge. For some this will be a walk in the park. For others it will be a challenging experience. Doc wasn't feeling all that well yesterday so I thought I'd make his favorite Oatmeal Raisin cookies (with a healthy tweak).BUT...We were out of eggs AND raisins!!! What!?! So a quick search of the web and I scored several great recipes which I kinda mixed and matched to make a brand new creation.The BEST part...It's kinda healthy! BONUS...They're Vegan!

Great questions! Personally, I don't tell anyone what the can or cannot eat or drink. It is important for each of us to decide what works best for our individual situations. I personally will not be giving up coffee. I drink my coffee black with a bit of honey.

I would suggest that if you currently use store-bought, chemically creamers that you cut it out completely...for good! Whether it's fat-free, low-fat or dairy free most of them include cancer-causing chemicals. Coffee-Mate ingredients include partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil. Can you say GMO? Think it's better than real half-and-half? "COFFEE-MATE actually has more calories than half-and-half, with the
original powdered version clocking in at 30 calories per tablespoon vs.
real half-and-half at 20 calories per tablespoon!" source

Tea drinker? Go for it!!! Many tea varieties including green tea and yerba mate are great source of immune-boosting vitamins and minerals. If I decide to sweeten my tea I always use honey. We cut agave completely OUT several years ago for health reasons and we've never looked back.

We don't drink soda. For a special occasion we'll drink gin and tonic but I won't be drinking alcohol during Our Real Food Challenge. I enjoy a glass of wine occasioanly but I'm going to cut it out all together. The only alcohol will be in our DIY Tinctures and Herbal Remedies.

Water is vital! Your body need water for proper body functions and for survival. Plain water is fine but If you want to "spice" it up add fruit, cucumber or herbs. **Not chemicals**Lemon Water:I added about 4 sliced lemons to approx 1 gallon of water. I let it sit in the fridge overnight and it was delicious! If you don't like plain water this would definitely work.

Monday, July 15, 2013

When I first approached my husband about Our 7-Day Real Food Challenge his response was "Sounds Expensive." As the primary food buyer in the house I can honestly say that we'll probably save money. ***REAL Food Linky*** ends July 20th

By preparing for meals in advance there will be no
last-minute call to the local pizza place to waste money on junk food.
Also, by purchasing organic REAL food ingredients at the local "big-box"
store I'll definitely save $$.

Last night when I mentioned Our 7-Day Real Food Challenge to my mom she said "Sounds daunting." Without proper recipes and preparation this challenge might seem daunting. For us is it simply getting back into the routine of eating simply. It might seem easier to order a pizza or drive-thru but not when it comes time to button up your pants or put on a bathing suit. Not to mention the damage to your health.

I would rather spend a bit more time to prepare healthy foods than waiting til I feel bad or I've gained back the weight I lost several years ago. I FEEL better when I eat better. I LOOK healthier when I eat healthier.

This is a Challenge for YOU...Can you eat healthier for 7 whole days? Can you make a decision to continue eating healthier? This decision could change your life. It could change the lives of your entire family! Is it worth it? I think so!

For my husband I also have roast chicken in the fridge and 1/2 roast turkey in the freezer. Both homemade using un-processed ingredients.*I did not throw out the store-bought condiments* I don't need a riot on my hands in my own house...baby steps!!!My husband also wanted to know if I'll make him cake. Seriously? I don't even make dessert on a regular basis and you want one now? He's been such a trooper lately that I might have to try my hand at something to surprise him.

We will definitely be sipping on more HomeGrown Basil Lemonade. I LOVE this recipe and make it regularly!!!There are still a few days left to sign up for Our 7-Day Real Food Challenge. You must send me an email tomari_backtonature@yahoo.comIf you comment and are a no-reply blogger I will not be able to get you signed up.

About Me

You may have noticed that the price on food, especially produce has been going up.The quality, not to mention the nutritional value, has been suffering for quite a while.
Heirloom seeds or seeds that have been passed down for generations are
far hardier and as some studies suggest, have more nutritional value
than genetically modified (GMO) seeds.I don't sell
anything that I wouldn't grow in my own garden. All of the seeds
listed are un-treated, non-hybrid, open-pollinated, non-gmo, heirloom
seeds. Plants are grown using no chemicals.

Anyway, I
have been growing my own vegetables and besides the money they save me
the flavor is WAY better than the vegetables available at the
supermarket.It also makes me feel less dependent on the supply and I know what goes on my veggies.I
put together a few packages of seeds that seem to belong together and
the individual seeds are available also. Food prices are not going down
and growing your own food, especially heirloom veggies, is a great way
to save money and get more nutrition for your dollar. Happy planting,Mary